Henry Altemus Company

The following are questions submitted via email by our visitors.

If you have a question about Altemus books that you'd like answered please click on the Questions link at the bottom left of this page.

Popular Series of Famous Authors

Q:  I found this book in a thrift store. "The House of the Seven Gables" by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Published 1893. Could you tell me anything about it? Thank you.

A:  Your book is part of the "Popular Series of Famous Authors".

It is a late reprint and was published in 1893.

In this shape it has no monetary value.

Boys and Girls Classics

Q:  Hi! Picture of my book. Any idea of value? Tales From Shakspeare

A:  Your book is part of the Boys and Girls Classics Series. This series was published between 1899 and 1906. All the titles are reprints and originally came within a labeled box (see here).

Except for a few very desirable titles, these books only have nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Can you identify the publishing date for this "Black Beauty" book? Is there any value to it?

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1903. More than 40 different appliqués were used on the front cover of the books of this format.

These books originally came within a labeled box. See here.

This book is a reprint and only has nominal value.

Shakespeare's Plays

Q:  Hi. I am curious about the age and value of this book. King Henry VI Part 3.

A:  This series of 39 titles was published by Altemus between 1899 and 1933. Your book looks like a Format 7 title. These books were published between 1906 and 1933.

For more information see: Shakespeare's Plays

Little Men and Women Series

Q:  I have a book of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. I'd like to know if this is a first or second publishing?

A:  I cannot date your book exactly. But it is neither a first or second printing of this title.

Altemus published reprints of this title numerous times. The earliest were pre-1900 publications. Your book was published by Henry Altemus Company. Since Altemus incorporated in 1900, this volume is a post-1900 book.

The format appears to be from the Little Men and Women Series. This series was published between 1907-1925. The ads in the back of the book (if any) could help date your book more exactly.

For more information about the Altemus Alice's see: http://henryaltemus.com/alice/alice.htm.

The dust jacket for this book is shown here.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hello, I purchased this book recently because of the beautiful cover and my love of Victorian literature. Could you tell me the publication date? Sesame and Lilies

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1906.

This format has been seen with four different flowers on the left side of the cover. It also originally came within a labeled box. See here for examples.

All the titles in this series are reprints.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I bought "Poe's Poems" in an antique store in Guthrie, Oklahoma for $6. I've searched the Internet for it and I cannot find it anywhere; whenever coming across your website, I entered the title and it said that nothing of the such was in the data base. There are also a total of 32 pages at the end of the book that lists others that were published by the Henry Altemus Company. In the front cover, as pictured, December 25th, 1910 has been written in - hopefully that gives insight into the general time it was published. If there's a year and also probably a value on the book, I would love to know that information.

A:  This book is part of the Petit Trianon Series. It was published in 1908-1909. As with all the titles in this series, it is a reprint.

This format originally came within a labeled box. See here.

You paid fair value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Can you tell me about this book? The Lays of Ancient Rome. No dates anywhere in the book, but other books are offered in the back from $.40 to $1.25. Thanks!

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series. It was published in 1904.

It is a reprint with nominal value.

It originally was sold with a labeled box. See here.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have four books and I am trying to find out more information about them. I have attached photos of the covers.

They are Bryant's Poems, Evangeline and Other Poems, Milton's Poems, and Holmes' Poems. They were my wife's grandfathers.

I appreciate you taking the time to help me.

A:  Your books are from the Vademecum Series and were published in 1905-1906.

As with all of the title in this series, they are reprints. Originally they came within a labeled box. An example is shown here.

None if these books have very collectible titles and therefore only have nominal value.

Wee Books for Wee Folks Series

Q:  Hello, I have this copy of Little Black Sambo that I am trying to date. I am hoping you can help me. I've read your very thorough post, but as you can see my copy is different than the two samples you've shown on your site. I'd so appreciate any insight you can offer. Many thanks in advance.

A:  Your book is part of the Wee Books for Wee Folks Series.

Altemus first published this title in 1918. The copy without the dust jacket on the webpage was published between 1918 and 1920. The yellow cover lettering was noted in those years. Your copy was published between 1921 and 1934.

In order to date your book more precisely you need to look at the ads in the back of the book and at the endpapers. Dates for the endpapers are given here: http://www.henryaltemus.com/wee_books/index.htm.

If you need further help, let me know.